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Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Where is Ed?
I heard that ED Moses resigned today. If true, can you supply any of the details? If false, can you supply any of the facts to the contrary?
23 comments:
Anonymous
said...
The answer is a new "assignment" for Ed. Here is the LLNL press release...
Edward Moses to lead Fusion Ignition Science and Applications research effort -- Jeff Wisoff appointed acting principal associate director of NIF & Photon Science
Lynda L Seaver, LLNL, (925) 423-3103, seaver1@llnl.gov Share on twitter Share on facebook Share on google_plusone_share More Sharing Services Edward Moses Jeff Wisoff LIVERMORE, Calif. - Edward Moses, the principal associate director for the National Ignition Facility & Photon Science (NIF&PS) Directorate, will be taking a new position to lead a two-year effort to explore the science and applications of ignition, including the commercial prospects for laser inertial fusion energy. In this role, Moses will bring together academia, national and international laboratories, commercial, utility and other interests to enable the maturation of the science, engineering and technology needed to understand and exploit fusion technologies and fusion energy.
"Ed has been selected for this exciting opportunity and responsibility because of his unique experience and leadership capabilities demonstrated during the design, construction, commissioning and operation of the NIF," Lab Director Parney Albright said.
Moses is a recognized world leader in fusion research and development, laser science and technology, and industrial partnerships and project management. Under his watch, the Laboratory has advanced support of strategic national missions through the development of high-impact, high energy density science and technology. Moses has made seminal contributions in high energy, high peak power, high average power, and short wavelength lasers and light sources and associated technologies for a variety of missions, and has been responsible for developing a robust work-for-others portfolio.
Moses said: "This is a pivotal time for this field. Experimental results obtained at NIF have given us confidence that our inertial confinement fusion program is making great progress. We have demonstrated self-heating of an ignition target. I am looking forward to working with others to bring to fruition the 50-year goal of fusion energy."
Albright said: "We are committed to charting a course that takes advantage of the rapid progress we are making."
Norman Pattiz, chairman of the LLNS Board of Governors, said: "Ed is uniquely qualified to lead this important effort. He has our full support to embark on this exciting assignment and opportunity. We look forward to the creation of expanded partnerships with academia, the commercial sector, the national laboratories and the international community to address the grand challenges and expand the boundaries of high energy density science and fusion energy."
Albright has appointed Jeff Wisoff, currently serving as the NIF&PS principal deputy, as acting principal associate director. Wisoff came to the Laboratory in 2001 from NASA, is a veteran of four space shuttle flights and three spacewalks and is formerly a member of the faculty at Rice University. Wisoff brings deep expertise in laser science and engineering, long experience with the NIF project and management of the directorate, broad knowledge of the Laboratory's programmatic and operational initiatives and exceptional technical and leadership skills.
Well there you have it. The Peter Principle. Screw up and move up to the next level of incompetency otherwise known to some as RIP ( Retired In Place )
The sad thing is having made the Lab the laughing stock of the scientific world, he is now become the chief "music man" for River City. His salary represents the equivalent of two real scientists. Why give him a parachute, simply just push him out of the plane. Nope, we can't do that because it would be admitting that we now know that we have been taken in by this phoney.
Anonymous Anonymous said... Has anybody heard a story of him funneling a subcontract to his son-in-law? Wouldn't that mean the IG or even the FBI would be all over him and LLNL?
October 2, 2013 at 8:10 AM
Those at the top in many corporations and in government get away with murder all the time. Moses is just one of the good old boy clan of crooks like any worthless politician.
Read between the lines! "It's very difficult to overstate Ed's impact on the lab," Goldstein said. "He's a recognized superstar in the project management world, and the NIF certainly qualifies as one of the most complex and expensive projects ever conducted by the (Energy Department)." Impact on the Lab: has brought the lab to its knees. Superstar: there is an example of fusion for you. Expensive projects: just a factor of three over budget. Ed Moses represents the worst that LLNL has to offer. Ed Moses respects no one, why does LLNL respect him?
Expensive projects: just a factor of three over budget
3X over budget? I heard it started a $1B and now the tax payer has spent $7.5B. I hope the funds get cut off 100% from "any" resources foreign and domestic.
For the record, the initial NIF cost was $1.2 billion for construction, plus $0.6 billion for associated operating funds, for a total of $1.8 billion. This was the old method of defining total construction costs. If they had achieved ignition, nobody would care about the cost overrun. Or if Moses had recognized earlier that the original optimism was unjustified, and the program needed a change of direction, then he could be excused. His major failure as a manager was that his continued over optimism was not coupled to scientific reality.
Just goes to show, as a manager, there is literally nothing you can do to get yourself fired. Mess up enough and you are liable to get yourself a plum job with lab management singing your praises. Just astonishing. I know several people who are trying their best to get in the management chain because they know once there, your job will never go away, and you no longer have to work hard. Don't do anything? As a manager that warrants a promotion.
...trying their best to get in the management chain because they know once there, your job will never go away, and you no longer have to work hard.
October 2, 2013 at 8:06 PM
If that is why they want to be in management, then they are automatically disqualified from being in management. Would YOU want a manager who got into management for that reason?? Your acquaintances should be discouraged in no uncertain terms, and someone should explain to them that they are (trying to be) part of the problem.
"If that is why they want to be in management, then they are automatically disqualified from being in management. Would YOU want a manager who got into management for that reason?? Your acquaintances should be discouraged in no uncertain terms, and someone should explain to them that they are (trying to be) part of the problem.
October 2, 2013 at 8:40 PM"
Of course what you are saying is correct, however management is viewed very differently at the labs. The management sees itself as the sole goal that anyone would want to be at the lab. There are winners and losers and managers are winners. Once you are in management you reap the rewards which includes not having to work hard, big money, the ability to abuse, travel, and being in an exclusive club where you do not have to talk with or interact with works. Part of the constant management training is about loyalty, but only loyalty to the management hierarchy and the management class.
Moses is easily the most arrogant person I've worked with in 25 years at the lab, and also one of the dumbest except in certain select areas that were once critical (like large laser project management). He rose to run the directorate because George Miller liked him, and subsequently ruined the ignition effort in a spectacular public way - but by that time, it was impossible to get rid of him without making everyone around him look incompetant for not having gotten rid of him 3 years earlier. With Moses finally gone, it will be interesting to see what happens to the syncophants he surrounded himself with.
"Of course what you are saying is correct, however management is viewed very differently at the labs. The management sees itself as the sole goal that anyone would want to be at the lab. There are winners and losers and managers are winners. Once you are in management you reap the rewards which includes not having to work hard, big money, the ability to abuse, travel, and being in an exclusive club where you do not have to talk with or interact with works. Part of the constant management training is about loyalty, but only loyalty to the management hierarchy and the management class."
This is a very accurate characterization.
So, that's the crux of the problem. What's the solution? How can we change this sickness in the culture? Is the solution organizational? Structural? Incentives? Disincentives? Change in management? Change driven by board of directors? Driven by Gov?
We need to fix it. The rate at which very short-sighted people are jumping into management is alarming. They are accelerating the death spiral we're in. Worst I've seen things in my 30 years.
They have now spent about $7.5B and have nothing. How long are the tax payers and congress going to continue funding instead of requiring mandatory dismantling.
"...They have now spent about $7.5B and have nothing. How long are the tax payers and congress going to continue funding instead of requiring mandatory dismantling...."
Same across the 1 square mile lab. The non-producing management flourishes and the innovators wither.
"Where is Ed?" Well, he was on TV from 1961 to 1966, and was very popular. Unfortunately, no one knows where he is today. One interesting thing about him was that he was able to learn how to move his lips on cue, whenever he was supposed to be talking. "Ed was very smart" said Alan Young, who played Wilbur Post.
Oh, wait, you mean Ed is his first name? Why do you call him by his first name? I thought you meant Mr. Ed.
What's the solution? GET RID OF THE CORPORATIONS. All three NNSA labs are now 100% run by incompetent corporations that care about nothing else other than making money and not getting sued.
Do they care about science? No. Do they care about national security? No, except when it makes them money. What is their biggest motivator? Preserve the status quo, and by that I mean the check they all get for "managing" these labs. (Even though they are "managing" them straight into the ground.)
Everyone thinks corporations are "more efficient" than government agencies. No, they are simply better at making money. They will do whatever it takes to maximize their cut of the profit, even if that means wasting money to reduce their own liability. You remember all those idiotic "safety" classes? Who do you think those are really meant to protect?
What's the solution? GET RID OF THE CORPORATIONS. All three NNSA labs are now 100% run by incompetent corporations that care about nothing else other than making money and not getting sued.
Do they care about science? No. Do they care about national security? No, except when it makes them money. What is their biggest motivator? Preserve the status quo, and by that I mean the check they all get for "managing" these labs. (Even though they are "managing" them straight into the ground.)
Everyone thinks corporations are "more efficient" than government agencies. No, they are simply better at making money. They will do whatever it takes to maximize their cut of the profit, even if that means wasting money to reduce their own liability. You remember all those idiotic "safety" classes? Who do you think those are really meant to protect?
I dunno, I think he's on to something here (double posting). Try as I might, I can't help reading the duplcate post-- hence paying twice as much attention to his strange messages as I would have otherwise.
23 comments:
The answer is a new "assignment" for Ed. Here is the LLNL press release...
Edward Moses to lead Fusion Ignition Science and Applications research effort -- Jeff Wisoff appointed acting principal associate director of NIF & Photon Science
Lynda L Seaver, LLNL, (925) 423-3103, seaver1@llnl.gov
Share on twitter Share on facebook Share on google_plusone_share More Sharing Services
Edward Moses
Jeff Wisoff
LIVERMORE, Calif. - Edward Moses, the principal associate director for the National Ignition Facility & Photon Science (NIF&PS) Directorate, will be taking a new position to lead a two-year effort to explore the science and applications of ignition, including the commercial prospects for laser inertial fusion energy. In this role, Moses will bring together academia, national and international laboratories, commercial, utility and other interests to enable the maturation of the science, engineering and technology needed to understand and exploit fusion technologies and fusion energy.
"Ed has been selected for this exciting opportunity and responsibility because of his unique experience and leadership capabilities demonstrated during the design, construction, commissioning and operation of the NIF," Lab Director Parney Albright said.
Moses is a recognized world leader in fusion research and development, laser science and technology, and industrial partnerships and project management. Under his watch, the Laboratory has advanced support of strategic national missions through the development of high-impact, high energy density science and technology. Moses has made seminal contributions in high energy, high peak power, high average power, and short wavelength lasers and light sources and associated technologies for a variety of missions, and has been responsible for developing a robust work-for-others portfolio.
Moses said: "This is a pivotal time for this field. Experimental results obtained at NIF have given us confidence that our inertial confinement fusion program is making great progress. We have demonstrated self-heating of an ignition target. I am looking forward to working with others to bring to fruition the 50-year goal of fusion energy."
Albright said: "We are committed to charting a course that takes advantage of the rapid progress we are making."
Norman Pattiz, chairman of the LLNS Board of Governors, said: "Ed is uniquely qualified to lead this important effort. He has our full support to embark on this exciting assignment and opportunity. We look forward to the creation of expanded partnerships with academia, the commercial sector, the national laboratories and the international community to address the grand challenges and expand the boundaries of high energy density science and fusion energy."
Albright has appointed Jeff Wisoff, currently serving as the NIF&PS principal deputy, as acting principal associate director. Wisoff came to the Laboratory in 2001 from NASA, is a veteran of four space shuttle flights and three spacewalks and is formerly a member of the faculty at Rice University. Wisoff brings deep expertise in laser science and engineering, long experience with the NIF project and management of the directorate, broad knowledge of the Laboratory's programmatic and operational initiatives and exceptional technical and leadership skills.
The new assignments are effective immediately.
Well there you have it. The Peter Principle. Screw up and move up to the next level of incompetency otherwise known to some as RIP ( Retired In Place )
Can you say "Put out to pasture?"
The sad thing is having made the Lab the laughing stock of the scientific world, he is now become the chief "music man" for River City. His salary represents the equivalent of two real scientists. Why give him a parachute, simply just push him out of the plane. Nope, we can't do that because it would be admitting that we now know that we have been taken in by this phoney.
Has anybody heard a story of him funneling a subcontract to his son-in-law? Wouldn't that mean the IG or even the FBI would be all over him and LLNL?
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Has anybody heard a story of him funneling a subcontract to his son-in-law? Wouldn't that mean the IG or even the FBI would be all over him and LLNL?
October 2, 2013 at 8:10 AM
Those at the top in many corporations and in government get away with murder all the time. Moses is just one of the good old boy clan of crooks like any worthless politician.
Read between the lines! "It's very difficult to overstate Ed's impact on the lab," Goldstein said. "He's a recognized superstar in the project management world, and the NIF certainly qualifies as one of the most complex and expensive projects ever conducted by the (Energy Department)." Impact on the Lab: has brought the lab to its knees. Superstar: there is an example of fusion for you. Expensive projects: just a factor of three over budget. Ed Moses represents the worst that LLNL has to offer. Ed Moses respects no one, why does LLNL respect him?
Expensive projects: just a factor of three over budget
3X over budget? I heard it started a $1B and now the tax payer has spent $7.5B. I hope the funds get cut off 100% from "any" resources foreign and domestic.
I heard it started a $1B and now the tax payer has spent $7.5B.
October 2, 2013 at 9:08 AM
"I heard..."?? What, you were too lazy to actually look up the facts? Sorry, but "I heard..." is a prelude to gossip, not to a serious conversation.
For the record, the initial NIF cost was $1.2 billion for construction, plus $0.6 billion for associated operating funds, for a total of $1.8 billion. This was the old method of defining total construction costs. If they had achieved ignition, nobody would care about the cost overrun. Or if Moses had recognized earlier that the original optimism was unjustified, and the program needed a change of direction, then he could be excused. His major failure as a manager was that his continued over optimism was not coupled to scientific reality.
Just goes to show, as a manager, there is literally nothing you can do to get yourself fired. Mess up enough and you are liable to get yourself a plum job with lab management singing your praises. Just astonishing. I know several people who are trying their best to get in the management chain because they know once there, your job will never go away, and you no longer have to work hard. Don't do anything? As a manager that warrants a promotion.
...trying their best to get in the management chain because they know once there, your job will never go away, and you no longer have to work hard.
October 2, 2013 at 8:06 PM
If that is why they want to be in management, then they are automatically disqualified from being in management. Would YOU want a manager who got into management for that reason?? Your acquaintances should be discouraged in no uncertain terms, and someone should explain to them that they are (trying to be) part of the problem.
"If that is why they want to be in management, then they are automatically disqualified from being in management. Would YOU want a manager who got into management for that reason?? Your acquaintances should be discouraged in no uncertain terms, and someone should explain to them that they are (trying to be) part of the problem.
October 2, 2013 at 8:40 PM"
Of course what you are saying is correct, however management is viewed very differently at the labs. The management sees itself as the sole goal that anyone would want to be at the lab. There are winners and losers and managers are winners. Once you are in management you reap the rewards which includes not having to work hard, big money, the ability to abuse, travel, and being in an exclusive club where you do not have to talk with or interact with works. Part of the constant management training is about loyalty, but only loyalty to the management hierarchy and the management class.
Moses is easily the most arrogant person I've worked with in 25 years at the lab, and also one of the dumbest except in certain select areas that were once critical (like large laser project management). He rose to run the directorate because George Miller liked him, and subsequently ruined the ignition effort in a spectacular public way - but by that time, it was impossible to get rid of him without making everyone around him look incompetant for not having gotten rid of him 3 years earlier. With Moses finally gone, it will be interesting to see what happens to the syncophants he surrounded himself with.
"Of course what you are saying is correct, however management is viewed very differently at the labs. The management sees itself as the sole goal that anyone would want to be at the lab. There are winners and losers and managers are winners. Once you are in management you reap the rewards which includes not having to work hard, big money, the ability to abuse, travel, and being in an exclusive club where you do not have to talk with or interact with works. Part of the constant management training is about loyalty, but only loyalty to the management hierarchy and the management class."
This is a very accurate characterization.
So, that's the crux of the problem. What's the solution? How can we change this sickness in the culture? Is the solution organizational? Structural? Incentives? Disincentives? Change in management? Change driven by board of directors? Driven by Gov?
We need to fix it. The rate at which very short-sighted people are jumping into management is alarming. They are accelerating the death spiral we're in. Worst I've seen things in my 30 years.
Contrary to his public view, Moses gets pretty angry and verbal (not rated G) with his staff on a regular basis. However he gets a "pass" on this.
October 2, 2013 at 1:35 PM
They have now spent about $7.5B and have nothing. How long are the tax payers and congress going to continue funding instead of requiring mandatory dismantling.
"...They have now spent about $7.5B and have nothing. How long are the tax payers and congress going to continue funding instead of requiring mandatory dismantling...."
Same across the 1 square mile lab. The non-producing management flourishes and the innovators wither.
"Where is Ed?" Well, he was on TV from 1961 to 1966, and was very popular. Unfortunately, no one knows where he is today. One interesting thing about him was that he was able to learn how to move his lips on cue, whenever he was supposed to be talking. "Ed was very smart" said Alan Young, who played Wilbur Post.
Oh, wait, you mean Ed is his first name? Why do you call him by his first name? I thought you meant Mr. Ed.
Did "men in black" really escort him off the reservation in a Government car?
What's the solution? GET RID OF THE CORPORATIONS. All three NNSA labs are now 100% run by incompetent corporations that care about nothing else other than making money and not getting sued.
Do they care about science? No. Do they care about national security? No, except when it makes them money. What is their biggest motivator? Preserve the status quo, and by that I mean the check they all get for "managing" these labs. (Even though they are "managing" them straight into the ground.)
Everyone thinks corporations are "more efficient" than government agencies. No, they are simply better at making money. They will do whatever it takes to maximize their cut of the profit, even if that means wasting money to reduce their own liability. You remember all those idiotic "safety" classes? Who do you think those are really meant to protect?
What's the solution? GET RID OF THE CORPORATIONS. All three NNSA labs are now 100% run by incompetent corporations that care about nothing else other than making money and not getting sued.
Do they care about science? No. Do they care about national security? No, except when it makes them money. What is their biggest motivator? Preserve the status quo, and by that I mean the check they all get for "managing" these labs. (Even though they are "managing" them straight into the ground.)
Everyone thinks corporations are "more efficient" than government agencies. No, they are simply better at making money. They will do whatever it takes to maximize their cut of the profit, even if that means wasting money to reduce their own liability. You remember all those idiotic "safety" classes? Who do you think those are really meant to protect?
I dunno, I think he's on to something here (double posting). Try as I might, I can't help reading the duplcate post-- hence paying twice as much attention to his strange messages as I would have otherwise.
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